Eccentric umbrella

ABSTRACT

An eccentric umbrella includes a shaft and a runner is movably mounted to the shaft. A frame extends laterally from the shaft and is located between the top of the shaft and the runner. The frame includes a first top member and a bottom member. A rib unit is connected to the first top member and the bottom member, and supports the gore of the umbrella. The center of the gore is located eccentrically relative to the shaft. A positioning portion has a first end pivotally connected to the rib unit on two sides of the frame. A second end of the positioning portion is pivotably connected to the top of the shaft, a second top member on the top of the shaft, the runner or a positioning link on the frame. The eccentric umbrella provides sufficient coverage to the user when using the eccentric umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly, to an eccentric umbrella.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

The conventional umbrellas generally comprise regular umbrellas and foldable umbrellas, wherein the foldable umbrellas are able to be collapsed. The shaft of each of the umbrellas mentioned above extends from the center of the gore and stretches extend from the shaft and are connected to ribs to support the gore. The user stands actually a little bit aside of the shaft so that the gore does not cover the user's back.

The present invention intends to provide an eccentric umbrella wherein the shaft is located eccentrically relative to center of the gore so as to effectively cover the user's back when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an eccentric umbrella and comprises a shaft with a runner movably mounted thereto and a frame is located between the top of the shaft and the runner. The frame extends laterally from the shaft and comprises a first top member and a bottom member. A rib unit is connected to the first top member and the bottom member. The rib unit supports the gore whose center is located eccentrically relative to the shaft. A positioning portion has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the positioning portion is pivotally connected to the rib unit on two sides of the frame, and the second end of the positioning portion is pivotably connected to the top of the shaft, a second top member on the top of the shaft, the runner or a positioning link on the frame.

Preferably, the frame comprises a first link and a second link. The two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft and the runner. The two respective middle portions of the first and second links are pivotably connected to each other in cross manner. The two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member. The first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.

Preferably, the frame comprises a first link, a second link and two stretchers. The two respective lower ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the runner. The two respective top ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the first link and the second link. The two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft and the runner. The two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member. The first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.

Preferably, the frame comprises a first link, a second link and two stretchers. A first top member is connected to the top of the shaft. The two respective top ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the first top member. The two respective lower ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the first link and the second link. The two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the runner. The two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member. The first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.

Preferably, a handle is connected to the lower end of the shaft and a grip is eccentrically connected to the handle. The grip is located at a weight center of the eccentric umbrella.

Preferably, the eccentric umbrella is an un-foldable umbrella, two-stage foldable umbrella or multiple-stage foldable umbrella.

Preferably, the eccentric umbrella is a manual open and fold umbrella, automatic open umbrella, automatic close umbrella or automatic open and fold umbrella.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an eccentric umbrella wherein the gore is opened and supported by the first top member and the bottom member, both of the two members are connected to the frame which extends laterally from the shaft. When the umbrella is opened, the center of the gore is located right above the user so as to provide sufficient area to protect the user from the rain.

The gore is also supported by the positioning portion which keeps the gore to be opened stably and the positioning portion is pivotally connected to the rib unit on two sides of the frame and the top of the shaft, a second top member on the top of the shaft, the runner or a positioning link on the frame. The eccentric umbrella has simple structure and easily manufactured.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a four-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the eccentric umbrella of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows second embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a four-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 4 shows third embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a four-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 5 shows fourth embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a four-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a three-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 7 shows second embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a three-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 8 shows third embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a three-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 9 shows fourth embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a three-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention used as a two-stage foldable umbrella;

FIG. 11 shows that the gore of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is folded;

FIG. 12 shows that the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is fully folded;

FIG. 13 shows the operation of the frame unit when the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is to be opened;

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the frame of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows yet another embodiment of the frame of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows yet another embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 18 shows that the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is used as an auto umbrella;

FIG. 19 shows the second embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is used as an auto umbrella, and

FIG. 20 shows the third embodiment of the eccentric umbrella of the present invention is used as an auto umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 20, the eccentric umbrella of the present invention comprises a shaft 1 and a runner 2 is movably mounted to the shaft 1. A frame 3 is located between the top of the shaft 1 and the runner 2. The frame 3 extends laterally from the shaft 1 and has a first top member 4 and a bottom member 5 connected thereto. A rib unit 6 is connected to the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5, and the rib unit 6 supports the gore 10 whose center is located eccentrically relative to the shaft 1. The eccentric umbrella has a positioning portion which has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the positioning portion is pivotally connected to the rib unit 6 on two sides of the frame 3, and the second end of the positioning portion is pivotably connected to the top of the shaft 1, the second top member 11 on the top of the shaft 1, the runner 2 or the positioning link 7 on the frame 3. By moving the runner 2 along the shaft 1, the frame 3 is extended or folded to move the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5 so as to open or close the rib unit 6. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rib unit 6 comprises an inner rib 61, a first extension 62, a second extension 63, an outer rib 64 and a bottom rib 65. The first end of the inner rib 61 is pivotably connected to the first top member 4 and the first end of the bottom rib 65 is pivotably connected to the bottom member 5. The second end of the bottom rib 65 is pivotably connected to the first extension 62 and the second end of the inner rib 61 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the bottom rib 65. The positioning link 7 has a first end pivotably connected to the middle portion of the bottom rib 65 and the second end of the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the runner 2. The frame 3 is expanded or folded by moving the runner 2 along the shaft 1 so as to move the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5. Therefore, the inner rib 61, the first extension 62, the second extension 63, the outer rib 64 and the bottom rib 65 can be extended or folded to open or close the umbrella. The gore 10 is secured onto the rib unit 6 and the top of the first top member 4. The center of the opened gore 10 is located eccentrically relative to the shaft 1. The frame 3 extends the gore 10 to the eccentric position relative to the shaft 1 so as to increase the area for covering the user's body so that the user is located at the center of the gore 10 and does not get wet by the rain. As shown in FIG. 13, when opening the umbrella, the distal end of the rib unit 6 is pulled by the tension of the gore 10, the positioning links 7 support the rib unit 6 on the two side of the frame 3 so that the rib unit 6 is under tension and firmly supports the gore 10 which is not deformed and bears the wind force.

As shown the embodiment in FIG. 3 and which is different from the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the bottom rib 65 and the second top member 11 on the top of the shaft 1. The embodiment in FIG. 4 is different from the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the bottom rib 65 and the top link on the frame 3. The embodiment in FIG. 5 is different from the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the bottom rib 65 and the bottom link on the frame 3. In these embodiments mentioned above, the rib unit 6 on the two sides of the frame 3 is positioned by the positioning links 7 to let the rib unit 6 be maintained at the extended status, and the gore 10 is well supported and is not deformed and bears the wind force.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is the three-stage foldable umbrella and the first end of the inner rib 61 is pivotably connected to the first top member 4 and the first end of the bottom rib 65 is pivotably connected to the bottom member 5. The second end of the bottom rib 65 is pivotably connected to the middle portion of the inner rib 61. The positioning link 7 has a first end pivotably connected to the middle portion of the inner rib 61 and the second end of the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the top of the shaft 1, the second top member 11 on the top of the shaft 1, the runner 2 or the top and bottom links of the frame 3. The embodiment makes the rib unit 6 on the two sides of the frame 3 is well supported by the positioning links 7 so that the rib unit 6 is not loosened and the gore 10 is stably opened and bear wind force.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 shows that the positioning link 7 has the first end pivotably connected to the main part of the rib unit 6 and the second end of the positioning link 7 is pivotably connected to the second top member 11 on the top of the shaft 1. The second end of the positioning link 7 can also be pivotably connected to the top of the shaft 1, the runner 2 or the top and bottom links of the frame 3. The embodiment makes the rib unit 6 on the two sides of the frame 3 is well supported by the positioning links 7 so that the rib unit 6 is not loosened and the gore 10 is stably opened and bear wind force.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 12, 14, 15 and 18, a handle 8 is connected to the lower end of the shaft 1, and a grip 82 is eccentrically connected to the handle 8 and located at a weight center of the eccentric umbrella. The user can hold the grip 82 more comfortable and controls the weight of the umbrella.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when folding the umbrella, the frame 3, the first top member 4, the bottom member 5 and the rib unit 6 are folded to one side of the shaft 1, the first top member 4 is located higher than the top of the shaft 1 to allow the frame 3, the first top member 4, the bottom member 5 and the rib unit 6 to be folded and moved more close to one side of the shaft 1. The rib unit 6 on two sides of the frame 3 can be folded to the space on the other side of the shaft 1 to minimize the final volume of the folded umbrella. As shown in FIG. 12, there is a space 81 defined in the handle 8 and located eccentric to the shaft 1 so that the distal end of the rib unit 6 of the umbrella can be accommodated in the space 81.

FIGS. 1-12 show that the frame 3 comprises a first link 31 and a second link 32. The two respective first ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft 1 and the runner 2. The two respective middle portions of the first and second links 31, 32 are pivotably connected to each other in cross manner. The two second ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5. The first top member 4 and the bottom member 5 are connected to the rib unit 6 which supports the gore 10 whose center is located eccentric to the shaft 1.

FIGS. 14 and 16 show that the frame 3 comprises a first link 31, a second link 32 and two stretchers 33. The two respective lower ends of the two stretchers 33 are pivotably connected to the runner 2, and the two respective top ends of the two stretchers 33 are pivotably connected to the first link 31 and the second link 32. The two respective first ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft 1. The two second ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5. The first top member 4 and the bottom member 5 are connected to the rib unit 6. The rib unit 6 which supports the gore 10 whose center is located eccentric to the shaft 1. The connection of the positioning link 7 can also be the ways shown in the previous embodiments.

FIGS. 15 and 17 show that the frame 3 comprises a first link 31, a second link 32 and two stretchers 33. The second top member 11 is connected to the top of the shaft 1. Two respective top ends of the two stretchers 33 are pivotably connected to the second top member 11. The two respective lower ends of the two stretchers 33 are pivotably connected to the first link 31 and the second link 32. The two respective first ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the runner 2, The two second ends of the first and second links 31, 32 are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member 4 and the bottom member 5. The first top member 4 and the bottom member 5 are connected to the rib unit 6. The rib unit 6 which supports the gore 10 whose center is located eccentric to the shaft 1. The connection of the positioning link 7 can also be the ways shown in the previous embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1-17, it is noted that the eccentric umbrella can be an un-foldable umbrella, two-stage foldable umbrella or multiple-stage foldable umbrella. The eccentric umbrella can also be a manual open and fold umbrella, automatic open umbrella, automatic close umbrella or automatic open and fold umbrella. FIG. 18 shows an auto umbrella, there is a third top member 9 connected to the shaft 1 and is pivotably connected to the frame 3. A cable 21 is pivotably connected to the runner 2 and the outer end of the cable 21 is pivotably connected to the frame 3. A compression spring is connected between the third top member 9 and the runner 2 so as to function the automatic features. FIGS. 19 and 20 show the multiple-stage fold umbrella, the automatic open and fold umbrella, the automatic open umbrella and the automatic close umbrella.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An eccentric umbrella comprising: a shaft and a runner movably mounted to the shaft, a frame located between a top of the shaft and the runner, the frame extending laterally from the shaft and having a first top member and a bottom member connected thereto, a rib unit connected to the first top member and the bottom member, the rib unit supporting a gore whose center is located eccentrically relative to the shaft, and a positioning portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the positioning portion pivotally connected to the rib unit on two sides of the frame, the second end of the positioning portion pivotably connected to the top of the shaft, a second top member on the top of the shaft, the runner or a positioning link on the frame.
 2. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first link and a second link, two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft and the runner, two respective middle portions of the first and second links are pivotably connected to each other in cross manner, two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member, the first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.
 3. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first link, a second link and two stretchers, two respective lower ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the runner, two respective top ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the first link and the second link, two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the top of the shaft, two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member, the first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.
 4. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first link, a second link and two stretchers, a first top member is connected to the top of the shaft, two respective top ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the second top member, two respective lower ends of the two stretchers are pivotably connected to the first link and the second link, two respective first ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the runner, two second ends of the first and second links are respectively and pivotably connected to the first top member and the bottom member, the first top member and the bottom member are connected to the rib unit.
 5. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a handle is connected to a lower end of the shaft, a grip is eccentrically connected to the handle and located at a weight center of the eccentric umbrella.
 6. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eccentric umbrella is a un-foldable umbrella, two-stage foldable umbrella or multiple-stage foldable umbrella.
 7. The eccentric umbrella as claimed in claim 6, wherein the eccentric umbrella is a manual open and fold umbrella, automatic open umbrella, automatic close umbrella or automatic open and fold umbrella. 